Kalimo vs KalimbaP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Kalimo
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Kalimo brings score import, kalimba practice, on-screen performance, and music creation together on iPhone and iPad. Arrange your scores for a standard 17-key C kalimba and practice with falling notes. With Kalimo Studio, layer parts, record performances, edit notes, and mix them into a song. β From score to kalimba β’ Import MusicXML, MXL, XML, and supported MIDI files β’ Arrange for a standard 17-key C kalimba β’ Choose a solo arrangement or Studio Ensemble β’ Listen to automatic playback to explore melodies and harmonies β’ Try the built-in demo without preparing a score β Practice at your own pace β’ Follow falling notes to see where and when to play β’ Adjust playback speed and look-ahead β’ Repeat passages with A/B or current-measure loops β’ Match notes with the on-screen keys or MIDI input β’ Choose a metronome, number or pitch-name labels, and note colors β Play and edit on screen β’ Perform freely on a multi-touch kalimba β’ Tap to add notes and drag them in the kalimba roll β’ Adjust note length, velocity, and thumb assignments β’ Use glissandos, selection, copy, and undo β’ Edit tempo, meter, and key signatures β’ Play with four included sounds: piano, synth, GM kalimba, and Hanamoto kalimba β Build songs with Kalimo Studio β’ Create and edit up to eight kalimba parts β’ Record with the touch keys or a MIDI keyboard while listening to other parts β’ Adjust each partβs level, pan, tone, and reverb β’ Use mute and solo to hear how the parts work together β’ Explore 30 additional instruments, including strings, winds, percussion, and kalimbas β’ Export MusicXML, MXL, WAV, M4A, and individual audio stems β Organize and export β’ Search, sort, and organize songs in collections β’ Edit song titles and composers β’ Export the source-file copy retained at import β’ Save edited notes as MIDI files β Free features and subscriptions Free includes four instruments, single-part playback, performance and editing, three saved workspaces, original-score export, and MIDI export. Kalimo Studio is an auto-renewing monthly or annual subscription. It adds multipart creation, editing, recording and mixing, additional instruments, advanced score and audio exports, and removes the three-workspace limit. Device storage and supported song-size limits still apply. The annual plan offers a seven-day free trial for eligible users. Check pricing, eligibility, and renewal terms before purchase. Saved songs are not automatically deleted when a subscription ends. Existing Studio songs remain available for viewing, playback, and MIDI export. Playback requires that the instruments used by the song remain intact on your device. β Data and privacy Your source scores, arrangements, recordings, library, and preferences stay on your device and are not sent to a developer server. There is no app account, advertising, or tracking. Purchase verification and additional-instrument downloads communicate with Apple and the delivery service. See the Privacy Policy for connection information and delivery diagnostics. Kalimo does not provide its own cloud synchronization between devices. β Before you begin Requires iOS or iPadOS 18 or later. iPhone uses landscape orientation. iPad is optimized for landscape and also supports portrait and window resizing. MIDI import supports SMF Type 0/1 with PPQ timing. Transposition, octave changes, or reduced chords and accompaniment may be needed to fit the kalimba. Difficulty varies with the score, tempo, and performer. Recording captures the touch keys or MIDI input. It does not record ambient sound or judge a physical kalimba through the microphone. Use scores and exported works only with the necessary rights or permission. Terms of Use: https://apps.qursor-dev.com/app/6801140737/terms Privacy Policy: https://apps.qursor-dev.com/app/6801140737/privacy-policy
KalimbaP
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Turn your iPhone or iPad into a kalimba, for free. In Free play, choose 17 keys or a two-row, 34-key chromatic keyboard. Tap notes, glide between keys, and play chords with several fingers. Play as long as you like: Free play has no time limit and needs no purchase. Practice with your own 17-key kalimba in C, too. Follow falling notes and keys labeled C, D, E, and more, at your own pace. The app and its help are available in English and Japanese. PLAY FREELY Choose Free play in the library and start playing immediately. It opens with 17 keys each time; use the switch at the bottom for 34 keys in two rows. Both keyboards, taps, slides, and chords are included for free. FOUR WAYS TO PRACTICE Look & Listen Hear the example and watch the notes to learn the shape of a song. Play Along Play the whole song with a quieter reference performance. Your on-screen keys sound at normal volume, so you can hear your own part. Call & Response Listen to two bars, then play them back. Counts between turns and steady clicks during your turn help you stay in time. Repeat a phrase and move on when you are ready. Wait for Me Notes wait at the play line until you play the right pitch. Use the microphone with your kalimba, or tap the on-screen keys. Chord notes disappear as you match them. Slide across neighboring keys without lifting your finger. TURN RECORDINGS INTO A DRAFT SCORE Record your kalimba or a whistled melody, or import an audio file to create a draft score. Transcribe up to 30 seconds per recording or imported file for free, or unlock up to 4 minutes with a one-time purchase. Imported files are read from the beginning, up to the same time limit. There is no limit on how often you transcribe. Analysis runs on your device. Results depend on the recording level and surrounding sounds; listen back and adjust the notes as needed. EDIT WITH YOUR FINGERS Select and move notes, drag their edges to change length, add chords, delete notes, and transpose the score. Edit in half-beat steps, adjust bar alignment, and zoom out to see the whole piece. On a larger iPad screen, view notation and the piano roll together. SAVE AND SHARE YOUR MUSIC β’ Adjust the practice tempo from 50% to 150%. β’ Save songs automatically on your device. β’ Share a single score from your library and add scores you receive. Original recordings are not included. β’ Export and import score backups as JSON files. β’ Save a named MP4 video of the practice guide. β’ Start with the example songs Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Canon. START FREE, EXPAND WHEN YOU NEED TO Save up to five of your own songs for free. Built-in examples do not count toward this limit. Received scores and editable copies of examples do count. The Expand transcription & library purchase raises transcription to 4 minutes per recording or imported file and removes the saved-song limit. Pay once, with no subscription or per-song charge. Free play, all four practice modes, editing and sharing saved songs, and MP4 export are free. Score playback has no time limit. Restore the purchase using the same Apple Account. Audio analysis and recording storage take place on your device. There are no app accounts, ads, or tracking. Apple processes the optional in-app purchase. Practice, transcription, and score editing support a standard 17-key C kalimba. Requires iOS 18 or later on iPhone, or iPadOS 18 or later on iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
Kalimo and KalimbaP are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters β price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them β neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Kalimo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and KalimbaP sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Kalimo | KalimbaP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | β | Daily |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Renzo Ohhama | Naoki Ito |
In-app purchases
Kalimo
- Monthly Plan$5.991 Month
- Annual Plan7 Days trial$49.991 Year
KalimbaP
- Expand transcription & library$14.99








